Mahatma Gandhi
Comprehensive Veterans Hiring Handbook Available For Detroit And All Michigan-Based Employers. Huffington Post "Military veterans offer employers the work ethic and unique training that may take your business to the next level," noting that "recent federal and state legislation there are also dollars attached to hiring veterans." Brown notes that the Detroit City Council Taskforce on Military and Veterans Affairs has put out a "comprehensive" guide detailing "the benefits" of hiring veterans, "including the state and federal incentives available to employers." Brown adds that "on a related note, there are 20,500 jobs available for veterans at the upcoming Veterans Hiring Fair at Cobo Center on June 26-28, 2012.
Belated 237 Happy Birthday to the United States Army. Our fellow Veteran, Gordon Sumner sent in an e-mail reminder that Thursday was the Army's 237th Birthday! Thanks Gordon, and thanks for your many years of U.S. Army Service! Information on the history and other facts regarding our United States Army may be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army
Vietnam Magazine Interview with the Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Jeff Miller. http://www.historynet.com/interview-rep-jeff-miller.htm Thanks to my good friend, Rob Wilkins, USAF, Ret, at the Weider History Group for getting this interview to us.
American Legion Legislative Update for June 15, 2012. Please see attached Legislative Update sent in by Tim Tetz, Director, National Legislative Division, the American Legion. Thanks Tim!
Reserve Officers Association (ROA) SmartBrief for Friday, June 15, 2012. http://www.smartbrief.com/servlet/wireless?issueid=32C8F384-C7F1-4388-83B5-69A2F7A97B8D&sid=22cbe9eb%2d3ef0%2d4eca%2d8105%2def9f466dc32d
VA Announces Contract for New Butler Facility. http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2329
Golden Age Games Give Vets a New Mission. http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/7061/golden-age-games-give-vets-a-new-mission/
Prayers and blessings for you and your loved ones and for our glorious Troops and their loved ones everywhere. They are Amazing!
Best.....Wayne
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Below information sent in by Ed Ronders, Executive Director, VetBizCentral, Flint, MI. Let us hope this “Resolution” sails through the Michigan Legislature and becomes Law ASAP.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rep. Vicki Barnett
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 Phone: (517) 373-1793
Barnett Introduces Resolution in Support of Disabled Vet-Owned Businesses
Resolution also declares June a "Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Awareness Week"
LANSING – Today State Representative Vicki Barnett (D-Farmington Hills) introduced a resolution in the Michigan House of Representatives encouraging the state to recommit itself awarding state contract work to businesses owned by veterans with disabilities.
The resolution notes that in 2005, Governor Granholm signed PA 91 into law which establishes a goal of awarding three percent of all state contracts to service-disabled veteran-owned businessesand in 2008 PA 133 raised that goal to five percent of all state contracts.
"This is a goal worth pursuing," stated Barnett. "But sadly to date, we have yet to award even one percent of contracts to eligible veteran-owned businesses and that is just unacceptable."
Barnett has been working with members of the Michigan Service Disabled Veteran Small Business Round Table to bring attention to this issue as well as help to promote the upcoming National Veteran Small Business Conference taking place at Cobo Hall in Detroit, June 26-29.
"The people of the State of Michigan recognize the unique challenges faced by military veterans and their families, specifically those injured in the line of duty, upon returning from active service to life as a civilian," Barnett continued. "This conference is an excellent opportunity for state officials to connect with the thousands of veterans who own Michigan businesses."
According to its website, www.nationalveteransconference.com, the conference which focuses on helping veteran-owned businesses maximize opportunities in the federal marketplace, is the largest of its kind.
"Sadly, Michigan ranks 53rd in the nation, even behind Guam and Puerto Rico, when it comes to receiving federal veterans benefits," said Keith King, the President of the Roundtable. "The Veteran Business Conference is an opportunity for the state of Michigan to announce its intent to meet the percent goal it has set for itself and to show the veteran-owned businesses in attendance from all over the country that this state wants to be a leader in helping disabled veterans own businesses."
According to the Barnett Resolution, there are over 3.6 million veteran- owned businesses in the United States, many of which are owned by service-disabled vets or are committed to employing fellow veterans. "We encourage all disabled veteran business owners in Michigan who have an interest in doing work with the Big Three Auto makers or the federal government to attend this conference," states King. This is a great opportunity to market their company's services to the federal contractors and purchasing directors that will be in attendance.
"Our veterans deserve more than lip service," Barnett continued. "I hope that this resolution will generate enough attention to motivate decision makers at the state level to really take action on this and work to provide real benefits and opportunities for the men and women who have so admirably served our country."
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From Joe Salacki, State of Maryland Veterans Employment and Training Specialist. Thanks Joe as usual for sending us great scoop that can help our Veteran community.
Below link – Guide to Leading Policies, Practices & Resources: Supporting the Employment of Veterans & Military Families – newest resource guide from Syracuse University Institute for Veterans and Military Families. http://vets.syr.edu/pdfs/guidetoleadingpractices.pdf
This authoritative resource guide addresses:
Issues affecting Veterans and employment, e.g., skills and credentialing
Veteran programs that assist in Veteran employment, e.g., MOS translators and certifications/licenses
Business recruiting methods and programs, e.g., companies that have specific web sites for hiring Veterans, Sodexo http://SodexoHiresHeroes.com or Microsoft’s “Elevate America” vouchers (in VA)
Comparative Veteran employment data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Veteran disability resources from JAN.
Of particular note:
Appendix E discusses many government and private sector initiatives supporting Veteran employment (a must-read for DVOPs)
Appendix G provides a “state by state” listing of key state initiatives, e.g.,
Maryland’s One Stop Career Centers are highlighted
Maryland’s 10-point Veterans preference in State employment testing.
Sincerely,
Joseph M. Salacki, DVOP
Veterans Employment and Training Specialist
Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning
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A welcoming home for our Troops.
